Death to the Feeble Masses

Receiving the Evcharist is our weekly feature where we pair choice albums with our favorite libations. Drink from the cup of heresy. This week’s offering: Vassafor’s Malediction and 21st Amendment Brewing’s Back in Black IPA.

The Metal: Vassafor’s Malediction

Alternate cover art for LP version of Malediction

Vassafor are no easy band to dissect, and nowhere is this more true than on Malediction, the band’s new full-length album. Their brand of black metal is dense and uncompromising, with songs like opener “Devourer of a Thousand Worlds” stretching as long as 16+ minutes, twisting and turning many times over its course, and the album as a whole is littered with odd percussion, eerie samples, and swirling effects. All this serves to craft an album that demands the listener’s full engagement, and the reward is an album full of mystifying black metal of high order. Malediction is definitely not for the faint of heart, but the music contained here is a strong reminder of why the regional scene in New Zealand gets as much praise as it does.

I discovered 21st Amendment Brewing on their home turf, being taken out to their brick-and-mortar location for an evening of drinking during a trip to San Fransisco. Far and away my favorite brew from that experience was their Back in Black IPA, and since my first sip I’ve made it a habit to buy a six pack whenever I see it. Back in Black is a black IPA, bringing together the hoppiness of an IPA and the malty, caramel finish of a good porter. The body of the drink resembles more of the porter side, which gives an enjoyable mouth feel, and its strong enoughThis is the perfect drink for a fall night where fall still feels far off, as we have in Southern California right now.

Another week slips by, only eleven more to go in this year. It’s hard to believe how fast things seem to be going, so don’t forget to take time to enjoy yourselves. I’ll see you next time. Until then,